U.S. patent number 10,740,734 [Application Number 14/713,151] was granted by the patent office on 2020-08-11 for incentivized crowd funding system for internal innovation by an organization.
This patent grant is currently assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY. The grantee listed for this patent is 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY. Invention is credited to Kandyce M. Bohannon, Raymond P. Johnston, Robert R. Kieschke, Mario A. Perez, Audrey A. Sherman, Frank J. Sherman.
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United States Patent |
10,740,734 |
Sherman , et al. |
August 11, 2020 |
Incentivized crowd funding system for internal innovation by an
organization
Abstract
Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal
with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested,
and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is
transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from
contributors and for each of the received contributions converts
the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds
the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete
within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual
money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of
the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and
can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful
projects, the entity can also distribute the back funds to the
contributors.
Inventors: |
Sherman; Audrey A. (Woodbury,
MN), Kieschke; Robert R. (Woodbury, MN), Sherman; Frank
J. (Woodbury, MN), Perez; Mario A. (Burnsville, MN),
Johnston; Raymond P. (Lake Elmo, MN), Bohannon; Kandyce
M. (Cedar Park, TX) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY |
St. Paul |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES
COMPANY (St. Paul, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
57277613 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/713,151 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160335610 A1 |
Nov 17, 2016 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
50/184 (20130101); G06Q 20/22 (20130101); G06Q
50/01 (20130101); G06Q 20/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
40/00 (20120101); G06Q 20/10 (20120101); G06Q
50/00 (20120101); G06Q 50/18 (20120101); G06Q
20/22 (20120101) |
Field of
Search: |
;705/35-40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
1753013 |
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Mar 2006 |
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CN |
|
201876941 |
|
Jun 2011 |
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CN |
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103577935 |
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Feb 2014 |
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CN |
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2002342569 |
|
Nov 2002 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
Anand: "Is Crowdfunding Bad for Investors?", Canadian Business Law
Journal, 55(2), 215-230 (Year: 2014). cited by examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Baird; Edward J
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A computer-implemented method of crowd funding for innovation,
comprising steps of: distributing via a computer system a proposal
with a description of a project from a requestor, an amount of
funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds; setting by
an entity first conversion rates based on types of currencies and
setting by the entity second conversion rates based on a country
where a contributor is based; receiving by the entity via the
computer system contributions from contributors and for each of the
contributions received, if a time limit on the contribution has not
expired: converting the contribution to a corresponding amount of
coin according to the first and second conversion rates, wherein
the coin is an artificial monetary amount representing an actual
amount of money; and adding the converted contribution to the
funds; and if the time limit on the contribution has expired: not
adding the contribution to the funds; providing the entity with
ownership of the coin; sending to a pool of potential contributors
particular amounts of the coin, wherein the sending step comprises:
electronically displaying a user interface to distribute the
particular amounts of coin; and displaying within the user
interface an amount of coin and the time limit to spend the amount
of coin; releasing via the computer system from the entity to the
requestor an amount of money corresponding with the amount of coin
in the funds and transferring ownership of the project to the
entity, if the funds satisfy the amount of funds requested within
the time frame; returning the contributions to the contributors or
adding more time to the time frame, if the funds do not satisfy the
amount of funds requested within the time frame; and determining
whether or not the project is successful after the money is
released.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step further
comprises selectively adjusting the contribution by an incentive
multiplier, if the time limit on the contribution has not
expired.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of
distributing the funds by the entity to the contributors, adjusted
by the corresponding incentive multipliers, and converted from the
coin by the corresponding first and second conversion rates.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting step comprises
multiplying the contribution by a value greater than one and less
than or equal to two as the incentive multiplier.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step comprises
using one of the second conversion rates corresponding with a
country of the contributor.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting each of the
contributions to no more than a particular percentage of the amount
of funds requested.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step comprises
using a single type of currency for the coin.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step includes
transferring intellectual property rights in the project to the
entity.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending step further comprises
licensing the particular amounts of the coin to the pool of
potential contributors, wherein the license restricts usage of the
coin to crowd funding of projects within the entity and specifies
the time limit when the coin can be used for the crowd funding.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributing step comprises
electronically displaying a user interface identifying the
proposal.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the distributing step further
comprises displaying within the user interface an indication of the
funds received for the proposal and a time remaining in the time
frame.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises
electronically displaying a user interface to receive the
contributions.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving step further
comprises displaying within the user interface an amount of coin
remaining for the contributor and a time remaining to spend the
remaining coin.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
distributing by the entity to the contributors, or selected ones of
the contributors, a bonus comprising a set amount of the coin.
15. The method of claim 2, wherein the incentive multiplier
comprises a country where the contributors are based.
16. The method of claim 2, wherein the incentive multiplier
comprises a number of successful projects to which the contributors
have contributed.
17. The method of claim 2, wherein one of the second conversion
rates is used for the incentive multiplier.
Description
BACKGROUND
Crowd funding is a way to fund a project by raising many small
amounts of money from a large group of people. An example is the
Kickstarter innovation web site from Kickstarter, Inc. (based in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, US). The Kickstarter site can be used to fund
creative projects via crowd funding with Kickstarter retaining a
portion of the funds as its fee. The creator of the project retains
complete ownership of it. The backers are often helping to fund
their friends' project and can see the creative process as it
happens. Also, the backers may receive a copy of the finished
creative work such as a book or CD. Since the project creator
retains ownership of the project, this type of funding may not be
desirable for a corporate funding of projects or ideas where the
corporation wants to retain ownership of the project in order to
commercialize it if the project is successful.
SUMMARY
A computer-implemented method of crowd funding for innovation,
consistent with the present invention, includes distributing a
proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds
requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the
project is transferred to an entity. In response to the proposal,
the entity receives contributions from contributors and for each of
the received contributions the entity converts the contribution to
a corresponding amount of coin, and adds the contribution to the
funds. The entity releases an amount of money corresponding with
the amount of coin in the funds if the funding goal is met within
the time frame. The entity determines if the project is successful
after the money is released. If the project is successful, the
entity can optionally distribute the funds or a bonus to the
contributors, converted from the coin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part
of this specification and, together with the description, explain
the advantages and principles of the invention. In the
drawings,
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for incentivized crowd funding;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for receiving a proposal for
crowd funding;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for incentivized crowd
funding;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a user interface for a requestor to submit a
proposal;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a user interface for making a contribution
to a proposal;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a user interface for distributing coin to a
pool of potential contributors; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary icon for a coin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of this invention include the combination of a crowd
sourced idea generation electronic web site with crowd sourced
funding for corporate innovation. The actual funding comes from
internal corporate sources based upon contributions from
individuals, since the ideas and projects that will be created and
funded and ultimately produced will be the sole property of the
company that employs the crowd. But the decision as to what to fund
will be entirely up to the individuals (internal crowd) that are
placing the funds on the projects and ideas as they see fit. The
ideas are crowd sourced as well. This combination provides a new
way for corporate innovation and commercialization of ideas, for
example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for incentivized crowd funding. The
system includes contributor computers 10, 20, and 22 for use in
contributing to a project. Contributor computer 10 can include a
processor 12, an input device 14 for receiving information or
commands, an electronic display device 16 for displaying
information, and an output device 18 for outputting information in
other forms such as audible information. Contributor computers 20
and 22 can include the same components, or be configured in the
same way, as contributor computer 10. The contributor computers are
electronically coupled to a network 24 such as the Internet or a
corporate intranet. Entity computer systems 26 are also
electronically coupled with network 24. Entity computer systems 26
can include computer applications used within large or small
organizations, and such systems can include electronic mail
(email), accounting systems, record keeping systems, electronic
databases, and computers for hosting internal web sites. Only three
contributor computers are shown for illustrative purposes, and the
system can be scaled to include a large number of contributor
computers, sufficient to fund a project, coupled to entity computer
systems 26 via network 24. The entity can be, for example, a
corporation, partnership, or other organization involved in
developing ideas for innovation. The entity controls, directly or
indirectly, entity computer systems 26.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method 30 for receiving a proposal for
crowd funding. Method 30 can be implemented in software for
execution by a computer, such as one of the contributor computers
or other computer coupled to entity computer systems 26 via network
24. In method 30, a requestor electronically submits a proposal for
funds (step 32). FIG. 4 is a diagram of a user interface 90 for a
requestor to submit a proposal. User interface 90 can be displayed
on an electronic display device of a computer for the requestor to
submit information. User interface 90 includes a section 92 to
identify the requestor, a section 94 to describe the proposal or
idea, a section 96 to identify the amount of funds requested, and a
section 98 to indicate a time frame to generate the requested
funds. The proposal in user interface 90 can be described in text,
photos, video, or other multi-media content. User interface 90 can
also include a funds gauge 97 and a time gauge 99 to provide a
visual representation of the funds collected and time remaining to
reach the funding goal. Gauges 97 and 99 can be implemented with
icons in user interface 90. For example, funds gauge 97 can include
a bar that increases in length as funds are collected, and time
gauge 99 can include a clock that counts down showing the amount of
time remaining. Gauges 97 and 99 can provide a way for both the
requestor and potential contributors to view the status of the
crowd funding for the proposal.
The entity records the proposal via entity computer systems 26
(step 34). The entity also determines whether to approve the
proposal for crowd funding. Whether to approve the proposal can be
determined by, for example, a committee with members who have
voting rights to approve or deny proposals. If the proposal is
denied, the entity can send a denial message such as via email to
the requestor via network 24 from entity computer systems 26 (step
36). The proposal can be denied if, for example, all the syntax or
information for the proposal is not complete, even though the idea
itself would be approved. The review of the proposal to determine
whether to approve or deny it would occur to determine if the
proposal is complete and not to limit the idea, although in some
embodiments the review can occur to approve or deny the actual idea
proposed. If the proposal is approved, the entity broadcasts the
proposal to potential contributors (step 38). The proposal can be
broadcast as an email to eligible contributors for the project, or
the proposal can be posted on an internal web site for the entity,
and a message such as an email or text message can be sent to
eligible contributors notifying them of the proposal.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 40 for incentivized crowd
funding. Method 40 can be implemented in software for execution by
the contributor computers 10, 20, and 22, and entity computer
systems 26. In method 40, the pool of potential contributors 41, as
represented by contributions 42, 44, and 46, can view a proposal
and make a contribution to fund it. Only three contributions are
shown for illustrative purposes; the funding could come from a wide
range of the number of contributors. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a user
interface 100 for making a contribution to a proposal. User
interface 100 can be displayed on an electronic display device of a
computer for the contributor to make a contribution. User interface
100 includes a section 102 to identify the contributor, a section
104 to identify the proposal to which the contributor is making a
contribution, and a section 106 to indicate the amount contributed
to this proposal. The amount contributed can be billed to the
contributor or assessed as a payroll deduction, for example. If the
contributor is providing coin for the funding, then the amount of
the contribution can be deducted from the contributor's coin
account. User interface 100 can also include a section 107 to
display an indication of the contributors remaining amount of coin,
and a section 109 to display an indication of the time remaining
for the contributor to spend the coin on proposals.
Each of the contributors' contributions 42, 44, and 46 can be
selectively subject to corresponding incentive multipliers (steps
48, 50, and 52, respectively). Incentives are provided in part by
multipliers that can increase the potential return based upon
particular criteria such as the country where a contributor is
based, the group or division to which a contributor is assigned,
the number of successful projects to which the contributor has
contributed, or other criteria to encourage participation by
certain individuals or groups. As an example, the incentive
multiplier can be 1.5 or 2.0 so that, if a project is successful,
the corresponding contributor receives 1.5 times or twice the
original contribution, respectively. Instead of using corporate or
entity funds to make one large internal grant, the corporate funds
can be used to encourage participation by offering a potential
return based upon the incentive multipliers. When a proposal is
broadcast, the entity can optionally include an identification of
incentive multipliers for the project. For example, if the entity
wants to encourage participation by employees of the entity based
in Europe, the entity can indicate that any contributor based in
Europe will receive an incentive multiplier along with an
indication of such multiplier. As another example, if the entity
wants to encourage participation by employees who work in the same
group or division as the requestor, the entity can indicate that
any of those employees as contributors will receive an incentive
multiplier.
Also, to provide for raising many small amounts of money, the
individual contributions, represented by contributions 42, 44, and
46, can be limited to a certain percentage of the fund goal (amount
requested), for example 5% or 1%. For example, if the requested
amount of funds is $10,000, the entity can limit individual
contributions to 5% of that amount or $500. As another example, the
entity can establish a monetary limit such as $100 for each
contribution to a proposal. Other percentages or monetary limits
are possible, if used. These limits can help to encourage
participation by a large number of contributors as often desired
for crowd funding. If an individual contribution exceeds the limit,
when used, then the contribution is not accepted, and the
corresponding contributor can possibly be notified that the
attempted contribution exceeded the limit.
The contributions 42, 44, and 46, after selectively adjusted by the
incentive multipliers, are converted to a corresponding amount of
coin (steps 54, 56, and 58, respectively), and the resulting
amounts are added to the fund in step 60. Coin can be used as
artificial or virtual currency. In particular, coin is an
artificial monetary amount representing an actual amount of money
preferably in a single currency. Coin can also be branded to convey
specific corporate messages or link the history of the organization
(entity) to significant people or events in the life of the
organization. Coin thus provides a way to convert contributions in
a variety of currencies to a universal monetary unit, as well as
communicate to requestors and contributors.
The existing currency exchange rates can be used to convert from a
contributor's currency to coin, or artificial exchange rates can be
generated for conversion to coin. The exchange rate used to convert
to coin is saved to later potentially convert back to currency when
funds are disbursed for successful projects. The type of currency
for coin can be, for example, the currency of a requestor's
country. For example, if the requestor is based in the United
States, then the coin can represent US dollars for this requestor's
fund, and the contributor's contributions, if not in US dollars,
are converted from the currency of origin to US dollars. For
example, if a contributor is based in Europe and the requestor is
based in the United States, the contributor's contribution can be
converted using the current exchange rate (at the time of the
contribution) from euros to US dollars. The artificial exchange
rates, if used, can be another way to provide incentives by
establishing exchange rates between particular currencies greater
than existing exchange rates.
Furthermore, instead of contributing actual money, it is possible
for contributors to earn coin through particular activities such as
presenting a technical paper, the contributors' number of granted
patents, or the contributor's rating as determined by performance
reviews. The earned coins can optionally have an expiration date,
for example at the end of the current fiscal year for the
entity.
Instead of, or in addition to, earning coin the entity can
distribute coin to the pool of potential contributors 41 in step
51. In particular, the entity can replenish coins to the pool of
contributors. This distributed coin, and possibly the earned coin,
can be owned by the entity and licensed to the contributors with
the license specifying how the coin can be used and a time limit on
it. For example, the license can include the following terms: the
coin can only be used to fund eligible requestors' proposals; the
coin represents a value of actual money but has no monetary value
itself; and the coin must be used within the current fiscal year of
the entity, otherwise the coin expires.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a user interface 110 for distributing coin
to a pool of potential contributors. User interface 110 can be
displayed on an electronic display device of a computer for
potential contributors to receive the coin. User interface 110
includes a section 112 to display a coin icon representing coin, a
section 114 to display the amount of coin (number of units) to be
distributed, and a section 116 to display a time limit for using
the distributed coin. If the coin is licensed to the potential
contributor, the contributor can select the accept button on user
interface 110 to accept the terms of the license and receive the
coin into the contributors coin account subject to the license. The
contributor could view the license terms in user interface 110 or
another associated user interface. The value of the coins
distributed can be based upon, for example, a particular proposal.
As an example, if the requestor for a proposal is based in the
United States, then one coin (one unit) can equal one US dollar. As
another example, if the requestor for a proposal is based in
Europe, then one coin (one unit) can equal one European Union
euro.
As indicated above, the coin can optionally be branded. FIG. 7 is a
diagram of an exemplary icon 122 for coin to be displayed on an
electronic display device or screen represented by dashed line 120,
for example as the coin icon 112 in user interface 110. This
exemplary icon 122 resembles a monetary coin and can include the
entity name or brand, possibly stylized, along with a message as
shown.
Entity computer systems 26 determine if the funding goal is
complete within the specified time frame for contributions (step
62). If the funding goal is not complete, entity computer systems
26 can add more time for raising funds (step 64), or delete the
fund (step 65) and return any coins to the contributors (step 66).
Deleting the fund in step 65 means that the contributors are not
charged with the amounts of actual money they had proposed
contributing, and if the contributors originally used earned coin
as the proposed contribution, those coins are returned to the
contributors coin account in step 66. If more time is added to
raise funds, the requestor can optionally refine the proposal and
resubmit it.
If the funding goal is complete within the time frame (step 62),
entity computer systems 26 convert the coins for the proposal to
actual money and release the money to the requestor (step 68), and
the project is underway (step 70). By using coin to represent an
artificial monetary amount, actual money for the funds can
optionally be locally released to the requestor in the country
where the requestor is based. For example, if the entity is based
in the United States but the requestor is based in Europe, the
entity can instruct a European division of the entity to release
the actual money to the requestor rather than transferring money
from the United States to a European location or account. The
actual money can be released by, for example, providing an
electronic transfer of funds to the requestor's bank account or by
issuing a check to the requestor. Furthermore, by using coin to
represent an artificial monetary amount, the actual money for the
project is only expensed when the project is approved, for
example.
Upon beginning the project, the requestor transfers ownership of
the data for the project to the entity (steps 72 and 74).
Transferring ownership of the data can include transferring
intellectual property rights in the data such as any applicable
patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret rights. As the
project is underway, a status of the project can be provided to the
contributors by, for example, an email message or electronic
posting, allowing the contributors to track the progress of the
projects to which they have contributed.
When the project time is complete, it is determined whether the
project was successful (step 76). If the project was not
successful, the project ends and no funds are returned to the
contributors, having taken the risk of funding the project (step
78). If the project was successful, the project can possibly enter
commercial production by the entity (step 80). A project can be
deemed successful if, for example, the project can result in a
commercial product for the entity, if the project results in a
working prototype, or according to other criteria. Also, the
requestor transfers ownership of the project to the entity (steps
86 and 74). Transferring ownership of the project can include
transferring ownership of any resulting prototypes or other
physical items and transferring intellectual property rights in the
project such as any applicable patent, copyright, trademark, and
trade secret rights.
Entity computer systems 26 record data for the project (step 84)
and optionally disburse funds to the contributors, adjusted by the
corresponding incentive multipliers, and converted from coin to the
contributors' currencies using the corresponding conversion rates
(step 82). When step 82 is executed, the funds or bonus can be
disbursed by, for example, electronic transfers to the
contributors' bank accounts or by issuing checks to the
contributors. If the project was funded with coins distributed to
the pool of potential contributors, then the entity may not execute
step 82. If the project was funded in part by contributors money
converted to coin, then the entity may elect to execute step 82 for
those types of contributions. Alternatively for step 82, the
contributors, or selected ones of the contributors, can receive a
type of bonus, for example a monetary bonus or an increase in
virtual coins to reinvest in other projects with the coins being
deposited into the contributors' coin accounts. Another type of
bonus can involve rewarding successful investors, meaning the
contributors who have contributed to projects deemed successful. A
contributor's number of successful projects can be tracked, and the
contributors who contribute to such successful projects can be
rewarded with additional or increasing amounts of virtual coin to
reinvest in other projects. This bonus for contributing to
successful projects can be, for example, a set amount of coin for
each successful project or increasing amounts of coin based upon
the number of successful projects. Therefore, those contributors
who have a proven record of contributing to successful projects can
be rewarded with more coin and encouraged to invest in more
proposals they believe will result in successful projects.
Table 1 provides an example of a data structure for granting coin
to contributors based upon particular activities. Table 2 provides
an example of a data structure for recording conversion rates for
converting contributions to a corresponding amount of coin. Table 3
provides an example of a data structure for recording data for
contributions for a particular project. Table 4 provides an example
of a data structure for recording coin distributed to potential
contributors. Table 5 provides an example of a data structure for
recording project data. Tables 1-5 are representative of data
structures to be stored in a computer memory or electronic database
for access by the entity computer systems or other computers.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Earned Coin Amounts Activity Amount of Coin
activity 1 amount 1 activity 2 amount 2 . . . activity N amount
N
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Conversion Rates Type of Currency Rate for
Conversion to Coin Coin 1 currency 1 current rate for currency 1 OR
artificial rate 1 currency 2 current rate for currency 2 OR
artificial rate 2 . . . currency N current rate for currency N OR
artificial rate N
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Project Contributors Incentive Conversion
Contributor Country Contribution Multiplier Rate contributor ID 1
country 1 amount 1 multiplier 1 rate 1 contributor ID 2 country 2
amount 2 multiplier 2 rate 2 . . . contributor ID N country N
amount N multiplier N rate N
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Coin Distribution Amount Pool of Potential
Contributors (Number of Coins) Expiration Date contributor ID 1
amount 1 date 1 contributor ID 2 amount 2 date 2 . . . contributor
ID N amount N date N
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Project Data Project ID Requestor Amount of
Coin Received Product project 1 requestor 1 fund 1 product 1
project 2 requestor 2 fund 2 product 2 . . . project N requestor N
fund N product N
The crowd funding method described above can be implemented, for
example, as a software application integrated with existing entity
computer systems. The entity controls the process in part by owning
the proposal, the project, and coins for it. The entity also owns
the intellectual property rights covering the proposal and the
project, providing an incentive for the entity to commercialize
successful projects. This crowd funding method thus provides a
specific type of crowd funding that may be useful for organizations
as a way to fund innovation and internally develop ideas, aside
from the more commonplace ways organizations fund research and
development.
* * * * *